Evolutionary insights on critically endangered Kashmir red deer or hangul () through a mitogenomic lens.

Background: The Kashmir red deer or Hangul () is the only Tarim red deer species endemic to India. With a current estimated population size of fewer than 200 individuals, this critically endangered species is confined to the greater Dachigam landscape in Jammu and Kashmir. Poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation, resource competition with livestock, and small population size are the major conservation challenges for this species.

Unraveling the mystery of confiscated "jackal horns" in India using wildlife forensic tools.

Internationally, illegal wildlife trade involves highly prized and charismatic species and their derivatives. At the same time, common or less known species and their parts are also encountered but receive less attention than charismatic species. Given the increasing demand for wildlife products in many parts of the world, profit, and short supply, many fake articles derived from domestic or wild animals are frequently encountered in the wildlife trade.

Morphometric variation in wolves and golden jackal in India (Mammalia, Carnivora).

Species of (Carnivora, Canidae) have similar morphology and distinguishing sympatric species is challenging. We present data on morphometry of skull, body and hair of three wild species that occur in India, which include two wolves (Indian wolf, ; and Himalayan wolf, ) and the golden jackal (). A total of 20 cranial and six body measurements and microscopic characteristics of guard hair were analysed, using multivariate ordination to differentiate between species.

Genetic characterisation of the North-West Indian populations: analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region variations.

Background: Human mitochondrial DNA presents several interesting characteristics, making it a favourable tool in the field of molecular anthropology, medical genetics, population history, and forensic science.

Aim: The present study investigated the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region variations in diverse ethnic groups of North-West India for which population data is insufficient.

Subjects And Methods: The complete mtDNA control regions of 197 unrelated (for up to three generations) healthy individuals belonging to different ethnic groups of North-West India were sequenced.

Molecular investigation of three leopards death: A case of suspicious revenge killing.

We report a case study wherein we established the putative cause of the death of three leopards by identifying the species and number of individual prey species from the gut contents using molecular tools. In a National Park within Northern part of India, the suspicious death of three leopards (Panthera pardus) was reported from different localities on the same day. The gut contents from the three leopard carcasses were collected during postmortem and sent to us to confirm the prey species.

Identification of selected wild felids using hair morphology and forensically informative nucleotide sequencing (FINS): Wildlife forensics prospective.

We describe the identification of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), jungle cat (Felis chaus) fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinusis), wild cat (Felis silvestris) and caracal (Caracal caracal) using combined approach of morphological and molecular based analysis. Three mitochondrial genes [12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and cytochrome b (Cyt b)] and hair characteristics (cuticle and medulla patterns) were analysed and variation was observed among few selected wild felids. We did not find conclusive morphological difference among these examined felids.

Genetic portrait of North-West Indian population based on X chromosome Alu insertion markers.

In the present study, allele frequencies and forensic parameters of four ethnic groups (Brahmin, Khatri, Jat Sikh, and Scheduled Caste) of Punjab, India, at 10 Alu insertions of X chromosome were calculated. Six Alu markers were observed to be highly polymorphic with no significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and no linkage disequilibrium present in any marker. Multidimensional plot showed higher genetic affinity of studied populations with Asian populations.

Genetic variation and population structure of five ethnic groups from Punjab, North-West India: Analysis of MHC class I polymorphic Alu insertions (POALINs).

Genetic variation and differentiation of five ethnic groups from Punjab, North-West India was characterized by analyzing data on polymorphic Alu insertions (POALINs) within the class I genomic region of major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which is completely non-existent in Indian population. The haplotype frequency, distribution and heterozygosity among these groups and their potential implications in molecular anthropology and evolutionary studies were also determined. A total of 479 unrelated healthy individuals representing five different ethnic groups: Banias, Brahmins, Khatri, Jat Sikhs and Scheduled Castes were genotyped for five MHC Alu elements (AluHG, AluMICB, AluHJ, AluTF and AluHF) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).